Tag Archives: Disney Park

August 17, 2010 – The Toy Story Playland Area Opens in Disneyland Paris

“Thanks to the creative minds of Pixar Studios and our Disney Imagineers, Guests of all ages can now feel what it’s like to be shrunk to the size of a toy and to become literally part of the Toy Story universe in Andy’s backyard.”

On August 17, 2010, the Toy Story Playland area opened in the Walt Disney Studios Park of Disneyland Paris. Based on the Toy Story franchise, the area contains three main attractions: Toy Story Parachute Drop, Slinky Dog Zigzag Spin, and RC Racer. These attractions give guests the impression that they have shrunk down to the size of a toy and are on adventures with Buzz and Woody. A similar area opened in Hong Kong Disneyland and is called Toy Story Land.

On August 15, 2008, the restaurant Kouzinna by Cat Cora opened in Walt Disney World’s Boardwalk area. Replacing the restaurant Spoodles, the restaurant was created by Iron Chef Cat Cora, and features a Mediterranean-style cuisine inspired by Cora’s own Greek heritage. The restaurant’s name, Kouzzina, means “kitchen” in Greek. The restaurant closed on September 30, 2014, and was replated by Trattoria al Forno.

On August 12, 2012, the Princess Fantasy Faire attraction in Disneyland closed. Open since October 6, 2006, the area provided guests with a chance to meet the Disney princesses, and was located right next to Sleeping Beauty’s castle. Guests were also able to participate in an interactive storytelling experience with a princess, and learn how to be a true princess or a knight in a coronation ceremony. The area was replaced in March 2013 with the Fantasy Faire, which gave guests more ease in meeting the princesses and watching a show.

On August 11, 1955, the restaurant Casa de Fritos opened in Disneyland’s Frontierland. Serving Mexican food, the restaurant was famed for its specialty vending machine where kids could get a bag of Fritos chips by the Frito Kid. Guests could order dishes such as Frito Chili Pie for 55 cents, three tamales for 35 cents, and a Mexican combination plate for only $1.00; Fritos were provided for free with every dish. The restaurant was given an upgrade and a new name – Casa Mexicana – on October 1, 1982, and would go on to become Rancho del Zocalo on February 6, 2001.

On August 9, 2015, after operating for almost twenty years, the Walt Disney World Speedway closed. Located in a corner near Magic Kingdom Park, the racetrack was used for speed racing events, including a Formula Ford 2000 support race; the track was also used for the Richard Petty Driving Experience, which gave guests the chance to sit behind the wheel of a stock car and race down the track. The track has since been demolished to make way for transportation upgrades for Magic Kingdom Park guests.

“The youths, who were participating in what was called a Yippie ‘invasion,’ had shouted obscenities and had pulled down red, white and blue bunting hanging near Disneyland’s make believe City Hall.”

On August 6, 1970, the Youth International Party, known as “Yippies,” held a “takeover” of Disneyland. Among the activies and groups attending included a Black Panther breakfast at the Aunt Jemima Pancake House, a liberation of Minnie Mouse by the Women’s Liberation, and meeting of the Self Defensive Collective at the shooting gallery in Frontierland. As the intention for this day had been made public, Anaheim law enforcement had been placed on high alert and given riot training, as they have been told that the Yippies would be heavily armed and planning an attack on the Bank of America on Main Street. Though it had been predicted that between 20,000 and 200,000 Yippies would show up to the park, only about 300 actually participated in the events.

Though several caused some strange activities that day, nothing serious occurred in the park until about 5pm, when two groups of Yippies boarded the rafts and headed to Tom Sawyer Island. After they replaced the United States Flag with the Yippie flag and attempted to get a rise out of nearby tourists, park officials decided to take a preemptive strike and close the park before there were any altercations between the Yippies and the park guests. As the Yippies were pushed down Main Street, they were greeted with a band of guests singing “God Bless America.” This led to another altercation, and another swift push to get the Yippies out of Disneyland. While there was some minor damage done to the park property, the overall protest did little to disrupt the park’s operations until the early closing.

August 4, 2001 – The Live Show The Bear in the Big Blue House Show Closes in Disney-MGM Studios

“Welcome to the Blue House!”

On August 4, 2001, the live show The Bear in the Big Blue House Show had its final performance in Disney-MGM Studios (now known as Hollywood Studios). The show had played for over a year, and featured the characters from the hit kids television show Bear in the Big Blue House singing songs. The show was replaced by Playhouse Disney: Live on Stage, which had segments featuring the cast of Bear in the Big Blue House.